Moama will hope to continue its junior dominance with victory in the 17-and-under final
The junior netball ranks in the Murray League have almost exclusively belonged to Moama, but Tongala’s 17-and-under side is looking for its own taste of glory this Saturday.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
The Mowers dropped the grand final by a single goal to Echuca United this time last year, but with coach Amy Wickham’s squad made up of exclusively bottom agers and even some 15-and under eligible talent, the focus is less on redemption and more on the continuation of dominance for a side that has plenty of experience winning flags as it climbed the grades.
“This group of juniors that we’ve got have been an incredible group of young girls from the time that they walked through our doors,” Wickham said.
“All of them have been with us since Mini Mower days, so they’ve always been quite talented netballers.
“They’re a group of girls that have forever worked extremely hard.
“Even though they’ve got quite a few premierships under their belt, each year they walk through that door, they’re just as hungry as if they’ve never won a premiership before.”
Having only dropped a single game this season, on a week when their state school representatives were missing, the smart money appears to be on Moama to add another junior title to its trophy case.
But the Mowers aren’t expecting a cakewalk, especially after doing two extra quarters against Tongala in the semi-final.
“We’ve always known this year that Tongala, Echuca United, even Rumbalara, are fierce competitors,” Wickham said.
“They’ve got some extremely talented girls, who we’re quite familiar with when you’ve got a Murray League rep team with them as your teammates.
“We never ever enter the netball court against any of those teams, and particularly Tonny, assuming that you’re going to win.
“It’s going to always be a tight contest, and it’s who handles the pressure the most, can stay composed and execute the finer things in those pressure moments.”
Tongala’s 17-and-under team will take on Moama in Saturday’s grand final.
After falling in overtime in the semi-final, Tongala fought its way into the grand final with a two-goal win over reigning premier Echuca United, and will now look to take down Moama in the decider.
“They’re just a really talented bunch,” coach Alicia White said.
“They’ve really knitted well together.
“They hang out a lot together away from the netball court, so they have a really good friendship as well, and they’re just playing some really good netball at the right time of the year.”
Tongala surged back from five down at three-quarter time to tie up the semi-final with the Mowers, but couldn’t keep up in extra time, falling by four.
White said the pressure of the situation caused some later errors, which the Blues would hope to iron out for the final
“A lot of our girls haven’t had the opportunity of playing finals, so that’s new to them, and everyone handles pressure in finals differently,” she said.
“It’s about curbing those nerves at some vital times and bringing the best out in each other, which they tend to do.”
After such a tight semi-final clash, White and her squad have the belief they can become the premier.
“It’s going to be a tough ask, but if they put it together on the day at the right time, I have no doubt (they can do it),” she said.
11°C